The two main styles for citing used at CCAC are the American Psychological Association (APA) style and the Modern Language Association (MLA) style.
APA is used for scientific and technical research. Instructors in behavioral science and hard science courses may require you to use APA style for your references or bibliography page.
MLA is used for research on general topics and literary criticism. Most instructors in English and Developmental Studies classes will require you to use MLA style.
A few instructors prefer the style presented in The Chicago Manual of Style. This style is used primarily in history and other social science research.
Check with your instructor about which style to use for your research.
Parenthetical citations are placed within your paper to cite the source for your information. These parenthetical citations then refer to an alphabetical list of all of your sources that is attached to the end of your paper.
| Full Text? | Database Name | Vendor | Help |
|---|---|---|---|
| yes | NoodleBib | PDF Guide | NoodleTools | info |
- APA Style: Print Sources
- APA Style: Web & Electronic Sources
- MLA Style: Print Sources: Includes examples for multiple authors and abbreviations to use when information is not given in the source.
- MLA Style: Web & Electronic Sources
- Understanding Electronic Resources for MLA Citing
- Provides guidelines for identifying and locating information in electronic resources that you need to cite the source. Includes expanded examples.
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Introduction/Overview
What is an "electronic resource"?
Parts of a citation for an electronic resource
"Quotation Marks" and Underlining: Which do I use?
How can I tell what the original print source is? - Expanded Examples
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Professional Web Site
Report, Pamphlet, or other Print Document from a Web Site
Magazine Article from a Subscription Service such as EBSCOhost: Masterfile Premier
Journal Article from a Subscription Service such as EBSCOhost: Academic Search Premier
Article from and Online Reference Source
Article in an Online Reference Source Originally Published in a Book
Reprinted Article in an Online Reference Source
- Parenthetical Citations
- Provides examples for in text parenthetical citations:
- LEO: Literacy Education Online: MLA Parenthetical Documentation
- Purdue University: Online Writing Lab: Using Modern Language Association (MLA) Format
- University of Wisconsin, Madison: The Writing Center: MLA
- University of Wisconsin, Madison: The Writing Center: APA
A research paper is a form of communication. Like other forms of written communication -- business letters, memos, reports, essays, books, etc. -- the readers of your work expect you to conform to accepted conventions in presenting your work. This is the essence of communication. Using a standardized format for citing the resources you used in your research is a vital part of this communication. A serious reader may want to look at your sources to learn more. Without an acceptable and widely understood citing style this would not be possible.
- MLA web site
- APA web site
- Check Alleycat to see if your campus has these books:
- The Chicago Manual of Style
- MLA Handbook for the Writers of Research Papers
- Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association